I tried to hold back my emotions and smiled sweetly at the man in front of me, Benjamin, Gilbert along with the others around us looked surprised to see him recognize me, "Happy Birthday, it's free for you." I said casually then thrust a glass of Jagerbomb towards him.
He laughed but drank it in one quick gulp as if the drink had no effect on him.
Sh*t!
He's capable of holding alcohol, I muttered to myself.
"I didn't know you worked here." He asked as if we were old friends, but when someone ordered something and I took my eyes off him, I gasped in surprise to see the person being pulled by a man dressed in black which made me look back at the horrible man.
"I'm working right now." I sighed in annoyance and saw him raise an eyebrow before looking to my right.
"LOUIS!!!" My eyes widened as I heard him call out to my boss who was currently in the corner helping with the cashier.
Louis looked in his direction before walking over and standing next to me, "What's wrong? Not enough drink?" He asked while thrusting another bottle of drink towards him.
D*mn it, I should have known he knew Louis, stupid, stupid!!!
"Can I borrow your bartender?" I was stunned to hear him talk about me as if I were an item, then turned to look at my boss with my arms folded in annoyance, waiting for his answer.
I’ll be mad if he says okay, I thought irritably.
But Louis raised his hand as a sign of surrender, "Ask the person, you see what she is doing next to me, I don't want to be killed by a little girl, it would be very embarrassing." he said with a laugh then walked away leaving us again.
Seriously?! That's it?!
UGH… Useless man!
“So…” He said smirking like he has got the answer from stupid Louis.
“Take a rest, we’ll take it from here.” Benjamin interrupted with a wink like he came to my rescue.
Why are they acting like this?
The man stared at Benjamin for a while before nodding his head. “Thanks, man.” He said and I couldn't hide my annoyance and rolled my eyes before walking away from them.
“I’ll take a break.” I told them loudly and saw the annoying man following me from the other side like he’s afraid I’m going to run.
Sh*t..
Me and my bad luck!
I sighed when I saw him waiting for me at the end of the counter and ignored the other women who talked to him.
Rude much?
Are you sure you’re thinking he’s rude?
Shut up, brain!
“So, we meet again Dwyne,” he greeted me with a hang hand for me to grab and I just stared at it with a raised eyebrow, “Let’s go to the VIP room.” He explained when I was still staring at his hand.
VIP room, I don't want to think what will happen there.
"Come on, I don't bite..." He teased while laughing at his own joke, "Hard." He added and I couldn’t help but groan loudly which made him laugh harder.
God!
I slowly took his hand and he grasped my hand tightly while pulling me to walk with him.
"Took you long enough" He commented under his breath.
I stared at him "Please don't kill me" I said quickly and made him laugh out loud as we walked together.
Aware of everyone's gaze on me, I looked down in shame as I walked with him.
Who the h*ll is this guy?!
Pop..
Pop..
Pop..!!
“HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!”
I jumped in surprise when I opened the VIP door and everyone yelled out birthday wishes along with a burst of champagne towards us which made me scream in surprise.
"What’s this?" The horrible man exclaimed, which was met with another burst of champagne towards his face which made me laugh out loud at the sight of his shocked expression.
He looked back at me as I laughed before I shook my head as I watched him grab another bottle of champagne.
"No... don't... don't you dare spray at…. AAAHHH" I threatened but was immediately silenced as he sprayed the champagne at me who gasped in shock, "F*ck!" I cursed at him who was currently laughing out loud at me.
Everyone seemed to be bewitched looking at him and fell silent looking at the laughing birthday man.
********
He thrust a towel at me who was wet from the champagne splash.
By this time everyone in VIP had gone downstairs to dance and left the two of us here.
Ugh... it's sticky, I grumble.
"Look at my hair, it's like cotton candy," I grumbled in annoyance as I took a hair tie from my pocket and tied it casually.
It wasn't just my hair that felt sticky but my whole body, "Why would you waste an expensive drink like that? What a waste." I said, still mumbling and trying to wipe my wet and sticky body.
I lifted my tanktop and wiped my stomach which was also wet and sticky without knowing the man beside me was watching me with his naughty grin beside me.
Ugh.. sticky.. sticky everywhere!!!
I gasped in shock as my hand was pulled and made me fall into the arms of that horrible man who was sitting on the sofa.
Yes, I still call him the horrible man because until now I didn't know his name. I remember Richard mentioned but I have forgotten it, ugh.
I narrowed my eyes suspiciously, "What do you want?"
He kept his arms around my waist, holding me back from escaping his embrace.
If anyone comes in, they'll think I'm seducing him because our position as if I'm in his lap looks defiant.
"You look delicious." He said while locking his eyes on me.
I wanted to be offended but couldn't help but laugh, this was the first time I heard such words of seduction.
With raised eyebrows he smiled as he continued to look at me and then surprisingly kissed my neck.
"What are you..." Before I could protest, he savagely sucked my lips and tightened his embrace.
A part of me wants to push him. As if knowing my hesitation, he deepened his kiss as if to mesmerize me and make me forget where I was at the moment.
Defeated, I kissed him back and gasped when he locked his gaze on me with a small smile that made my heart skip a beat.
"It's the first champagne I've ever tasted so good." His comment made me laugh again and smacked him lightly on the chest, what a flirt!
As if just realizing my current position, I hurriedly stood up and tried to fix my appearance which I knew must be very messy, trying to divert and forget about what I had just done with the man in front of me.
"I have to go back to work," I said quietly without looking into his eyes, too embarrassed.
Before I left, he pulled my hand again and quickly put on a dry shirt.
"Only I can see you almost naked like that." he whispered in my ear and made me realize that all this time he could see my body clearly because it was wet.
" Pervert!" I grumbled and he just laughed without any guilt or shame.
I studied the oversized t-shirt on my body before tying it at the stomach so that it wasn't too baggy.
"Later then." I said quickly after finishing tidying up and hurriedly ran away with my heart still beating fast.
What was I doing there?! I said embarrassed remembering the hot kiss I gave to the man whose name I didn't even remember.
***************
The next day, Dwyne couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow, a bemused smile tugging at her lips as she saw Marco and Gray standing in the lobby, a sleek black Mercedes waiting behind them. Both men stood confidently, arms crossed, clearly in no rush, as if they’d been waiting all morning.“Seriously? You two are my bodyguards now?” Dwyne exclaimed in disbelief, shaking her head as she walked toward the car. My God…She paused only for a second, glancing at the luxurious vehicle. It was the kind of car she never imagined herself stepping into, much less on a casual trip to the hospital.Marco and Gray exchanged amused looks, shrugging in unison. “You know how much you matter to him," Marco said with a grin, gesturing for her to get inside.Dwyne rolled her eyes at their response. “To him? Or to all of you?” she muttered as she slid into the car. It was a rhetorical question, but she couldn’t shake the feeling. The weight of it all. Us—they’d said. Them all. The realization was unsett
Phillipe Quinn stood by his office window, swirling the glass of whiskey in his hand. The weight of seeing Ellaine after all these years hung heavily on him. He hadn’t expected it, certainly not in the chaotic setting of a public hospital. Ellaine… She looks well…The years of separation, filled with silence and unanswered questions, flooded his thoughts. He wasn’t sure what to make of it, but one thing was clear—Ellaine hadn’t been alone.The memory of the man who accompanied her flashed in his mind. Who is he?There was something about him, something dangerous, even more so than Benjamin Harrington. Ugh.. The thought made Phillipe clench his jaw. Benjamin had been a nightmare for their family, especially for Ellaine, and the idea of someone worse lurking around her filled him with dread.His thoughts were interrupted when Harry, his second brother and colleague, spoke up. “What’s going on, Phillipe? You’ve been staring at me for a full minute. You look like you’ve seen a ghost.
My eyes widened when we arrived at The Astoria, a luxury apartment complex in Coral Gables, just a stone's throw away from Palm Beach. Is he serious?!The sleek glass facade gleamed under the afternoon sun, and palm trees lined the pristine entrance, making the place look more like a five-star resort than a residence. I couldn’t help but take in the grandeur as Gray stopped in the lobby. When I turned to Bradley, he was already staring at me, that guilt-ridden smile plastered on his face. He knew exactly what I was thinking."You put me in The Astoria?" I frowned, my voice filled with shock and a hint of disbelief. Of course, Bradley would go overboard after everything that had happened. I should’ve known this would be his way of keeping me safe.He raised his eyebrows, his playful grin barely masking the seriousness underneath. "It's the safest place," he replied. "Unless you want to stay in one of my mansions?" His eyes lit up in excitement, as though the idea of me moving into h
As Benjamin Harrington walked back towards his Bentley, his eyes remained locked on Bradley, who stood beside Dwyne with a protective stance.The disbelief on Benjamin’s face was palpable as he tried to process the unexpected scenario unfolding before him.Bradley’s presence was commanding; his posture was assertive, a stark contrast to the apprehensive demeanor of Benjamin.Dwyne, clutching Bradley’s arm with a grip that spoke volumes of her reliance and trust, was visibly shaken.Benjamin couldn’t help but wonder about this man who had become so integral to Dwyne’s life. The juxtaposition of their reactions—Dwyne clinging to Bradley as if her life depended on it and Bradley’s unwavering vigilance—made Benjamin’s curiosity deepen.The tension in the air was thick. Dwyne’s heart raced with a frenetic rhythm, not from fear of Benjamin, but from concern for what Bradley might d
As Dwyne and Bradley's car glided through the familiar streets of Palm Beach, a mix of nostalgia and melancholy washed over her.The palm trees lining the avenue swayed gently in the warm breeze, casting dappled shadows on the road. This was the place where she had spent her formative years, a place now filled with memories both bittersweet and poignant.Their first stop was the old Ballet building, a grand structure with arched windows and elegant columns. Dwyne’s gaze softened as she looked up at the building, the place where she had spent countless hours perfecting her craft.She remembered the thrill of her first recital, the hard-earned applause, and the grueling practice sessions. But it was also where her dreams had been interrupted by a cruel twist of fate. A sharp pain surged
The private jet glided smoothly through the skies, carrying Dwyne and Bradley back to America after their whirlwind trip.The lush green landscapes of Italy had gradually given way to the sprawling vistas of the American Midwest, and now the jet was nearing its destination.As the plane journeyed on, the weight of their conversations and the revelations shared between them lingered in the air.Bradley had opened up to Dwyne about his life, his role in the Mafia, and the burdens and responsibilities that came with it. It had been a deep, often intense sharing of his world, one that had laid bare the vulnerabilities and challenges he faced.Now, as they flew back home, Dwyne felt it was her turn to reveal her own story—a story she had kept guarded for a l